An accessible, irreverent guide to one of the most admired—and entertaining—novels of the past century: <i>Rememberance of Things Past</i>. There is no other guide like this; a user-friendly and enticing entry into the marvelously enjoyable world of Proust.<br><br> At seven volumes, three thousand pages, and more than four hundred characters, as well as a towering reputation as a literary classic, Proust’s novel can seem daunting. But though begun a century ago, in 1909, it is in fact as engaging and relevant to our times as ever. Patrick Alexander is passionate about Proust’s genius and appeal—he calls the work “outrageously bawdy and extremely funny”—and in his guide he makes it more accessible to the general reader through detailed plot summaries, historical and cultural background, a guide to the fifty most important characters, maps, family trees, illustrations, and a brief biography of Proust. Essential for readers and book groups c